Feature: XML & Localization

XML - Revolutionizing Language Translation

The Internet has spawned an abundance of new terms and software languages. Many of you would already be
aware of languages such as HTML (Hyper Text Mark-Up Language) and Java Script. However, an important
language for the translation industry is Extensible Mark-Up Language (XML).

XML is a set of rules for designing text formats that let you structure your data. XML is used to store any
kind of structured information, and to enclose or encapsulate information in order to pass it between
different computing systems that would otherwise be unable to communicate (HTTP://www.w3.org).

XML can be used for a wide variety of industries, but of main interest to us and our customers is how it is
applied in the language industry.

It would take a lot more time to fully explain XML, but the most important aspect to know is that XML uses
a series of Tags (also known as Keys, Nodes) which can describe the style, formatting, and other properties
of the content. XML allows WorldLingo to quickly and efficiently extract all the localizable text and
graphics from the source documentation and translate it. We then insert the translated content back into
the XML file and return it to you. When you open the translated XML file in your editing environment all
the formatting is retained.

It is important to note that some XML editing environments can only export in XML - but not read XML files
back in. It is important to ensure your editing environment is capable of completing the XML "roundtrip".

The Benefits of XML
XML provides benefits to the Translator, but the big winner is the customer. In particular those customers
with high volume translation needs e.g. software manuals, technical documentation, packaging, elearning,
etc. Many clients are able to interface directly with WorldLingo from their content management system via
XML. This type of integration greatly reduces the clients internal management and processing costs as well
as the external translation cost.

Therefore, using XML files will deliver the benefit of a fast turnaround time and a reduction in the cost
of translation (particularly if Translation Memory is utilized).

What you need to do
The first thing you need to do is make sure your editing environment allows you to import and export
content in XML format. Some choices include: